The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-12-01


On the 26th of November Messra Thomas
Cook & Son, Tourists and Excursion Agents. 20
Yves, Bay street. Jacksonville, mailed the follow
ing letter of inquiry to Tallahassee Board of
Trade, which was handed US by Mr.. j. X Cohen,
Secretary of the Board:
GENTS: VIII you kindly furnish us with in.
formation rs to points of interest near by or ac-
cessbc from your city, with time table and IA ties
of fare! l. here any convenient way of visiting
the Natural Bridge, Wakulla Spring etc.Y We
are always ready To distribute attractive circulars
free.
The beautiful aud picturesque Tallahassee
Country, with its far sloping hills and broad,
winding valleys is full OF interest 10 those who
love The beautiful in nature Iu city aud country
visitors will find much to interest them that they
never expected TO see in Florida. Hotels and
boarding houses, second to none in Florida in
point OF comfort convenience and whole
some fare. excellent livery stable facilities,
and good roads among the attractions of Tai
lahassce and surrounding hill country. Fish and
game are abundant. Fox hunting, in which
ladies and gentlemen unite, is a iavorite amuse-
ment In short, visitors can get as much solid
comfort and real pleasure ia the Tallahassee
Country as they will ind anywhere for the
same amount of money.
The Natural Bridge i. IA miles from Tallahas-
see, accessible 10y livery teams over COED road.
The famous Wakua Spring. 16 miles distant,
is accessible by teams. Parties frequently make
the Journey from Tallahassee in the early morn
ing, remain I've or six hours looking at the
beauties of this wonderful spring, and return
late in the afternoon.
ST. Marks, located At the junction OF The St.
Mark. and Nakulla rivers. and near The Gulf, is
2l miIss by railroad. 81. Marks gets q good
share OF the sponge trade from the Cult coast
The steamer Walkatomica or small sloops
nay he found st this por, to carry parties up the
e. Marks river 70 Newport Sulpher Springs or
oat to the light house, snapper banks, and other
points of interest Hunting Parties ascend Wa
kuia river IN their boats to its rcs--the
wonderful Wakulla Spring.
Nearer Tallahassee is the Nurat homestead,
on HE high hill west Of and In sight Of the city
On the same hill, a little farther north, within
two miles OF and visible from the city, is For,
SAP Luis Here are the Hue vineyard and wine
cellar Of Pro-. Dubois.
As to Newport the Sulphur SPRING., &C,
citizen has handed in the following:
There is perhaps no locality in Florida which
presents a greater variety OF attractions than
that portion OF wakulIn and Leon counties Dor.
dering oa the st. Marks river from the Natural
Bridge to the Gulf Of Mexico The bridge itself
ia great natural curiosity. 1t is made BY the
ming usder ground several hundred yarde A
| little below where it rises the rapids" occur.
These rapid. are formed by rock bottom, ex-
| tending for 200 ysrdB, ever which the water is
not more than four or I've feet deep but from
the rapids the river 10 from twelve TO fifteen feet
deep to the bar, at the mouth Of the river, where
| it is 10 feet.
The Natural Bridge is about fourteen miles
| from Tallahassee; three miles further is the ia,
nous Newport Sulphur Springs. Up to and
long aer the war these springs were visited al Ger
tain seasons Of the year by great numbers of pso-
pie. TIVE large hotels Qarge for anti-belum ,imes)
were always filled, and every house in a town
! Of 2 900 inhabitants was boarding bouec TO &C
! commcdAte the surplus population. But not the
springs alone brought people to the ST. Marks
| river and TO Newport The river is enc Of the
| most beautiful In the world and on either side
the forest abounds In every variety Of game
deer. turkey, ducks. front and small game are
| Away. easily found. Fish of every kind ara
caught every month in the year. Two hours sail
carries you from Newport 10 the Gulf where
oys,ers, CLAIMS and every other species of shell
Ash can be procured-fresh from the water.
The a.. Marks river is the natural inlet and
outlet for commerce coming and going out OF this
| part Of Florida and Southern Georgia, but the
policy Of the railroad running parallel with the
| Gulf from New Orleans to the Atlantic ports to,
carry everything over the " long haul " closed up
! our natural outlet, and thus commerce, the life
Of All eeapor,e. ceased, and with il The prosperity
| Of st. Marks and Newport.
| The Newport Spring. and the town of New
| port are within two miles OF the ST. Marks rail-
| road. At Newport Mr.. White has recently opened
a conmcdiou. boarding house, and can testify,
| frnrn experience, will afford satisfaction to ali
! who 20 to see him.
! From what have said the inquiry is most
natural, how could ouch place be ovcrlookeds
1t has not been overlooked but circumstances
have prevented it's Advancement These
circumstances are changing with The universal
changes going on under the operation of the In
ter-SaC Railroad Co mission law which is
convincing The railroads tina, it is unwse to
! carry freight several hundred miles further
| away from its destination and then bring it
back tor nothing, and charge more than the
freight is worth to carry it twenty miles and de-
liver ii ST its place of destination. Newport is
the nearest point to the Gulf, safe from storms
and overflow, there the Gainesville, Tallahassee
and Western Railroad must cross the river
The barge canal across the peninsula
has been surveyed and located to New
port. ADD its construction is mere mat
ter ofthree or four years. The river will be
decpsned and widened for ocean steamers 10 un-
load at Newport upon the barges and railroads
and here We will have q city which will rival